This blog is dedicated to the preservation, investigation and all things related to European films and personnel involved with the Western genre. Tom B.

Sunday, September 30, 2012

Happy 90th Birthday Michel Lemoine

Michel Charles Lemoine was born on September 30, 1922 in Pantin,
Seine-Saint-Denis, France. He made his film debut in late 1940. Michel appeared
frequently in the films of Sacha Guitry and Julien Duvivier. His physique gave
him the opportunity to appear in young romantic characters and also embody mysterious
and disturbing characters. Throughout the 1960s, he appeared extensively in
Italian films, in peplums, Spaghetti westerns: “The Road to Fort Alamo” (1964)
and “Cemetery Without Crosses” (1968) and fantasy films. He also worked for
Jess Franco and José Bénazéraf. In the 1970s, he was seen primarily in erotic
films.

Michel later became a director in films where eroticism
mingled with drama or comedy. His films did not receive positive criticism, but
he nevertheless was recognized for technical qualities. He was misaligned for
his first achievement, according to him, for strong autobiographical accents.
He often appeared with Janine Reynaud [1930- ], his wife, alongside his
favorite performers, Martine Azencot, Nathalie Zeiger and Marie-Hélène Règne.

In 1976, his film “Les Week-ends maléfiques du Comte
Zaroff” was prohibited in theaters. He reluctantly turned towards the
realization of making pornographic films and used most often the pseudonym
Michel Leblanc, Olinka Hardiman and made a star of X (Marilyn, mon amour). He
left the industry in the 1990s, with only sporadic appearances afterward.

About Me

Born in Toledo, Ohio in 1946 I have a BA degree in American History from Cal St. Northridge. I've been researching the American West and western films since the early 1980s and visiting filming sites in Spain and the U.S.A. Elected a member of the Spaghetti Western Hall of Fame 2010.